Footwear for foot treatment or maintenance

ABSTRACT

A footwear for foot treatment or maintenance comprises a liquid absorbing inner portion of a material having substantially the same characteristics as polyeter foam plastics shaped to enclose a foot and a liquid proof outer portion or layer. A liquid such as a foot-salt dissolved in water is contained in the inner portion. When the footwear is put on a walking person the inner portion is periodically compressed and allowed to expand. The contained liquid will then circulate around the foot which is thereby subjected to an advantageous and effective medical treatment. The footwear, thus, replaces earlier foot treatment by using a bowl filled with a liquid. It can be designed as a simple article for non-recurring use.

United States Patent 91 Candelius et al.

[4 1 Jan. 23, 1973 FOOTWEAR FOR FOOT TREATMENT OR MAINTENANCE [22]Filed: April 26, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 137,500

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 30, 1970 Sweden ..6005/70[52] 11.8. C1. ..36/4 [51] Int. Cl. ..A43b l/l0 [58] Field of Search..36/2.5 R, 10, 9 R, 8.1, 4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,052,046 9/1962 Kramer..36/9 R 1,742,176 12/1929 Hebig ..36/8.1

Servin ..36/9 R Scholl ..36/8.1

Primary Examiner--Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion,Zinn & Macpeak [57] ABSTRACT A footwear for foot treatment ormaintenance comprises a liquid absorbing inner portion of a materialhaving substantially the same characteristics as polyeter foam plasticsshaped to enclose a foot and a liquid proof outer portion or layer. Aliquid such as a foot-salt dissolved in water is contained in the innerportion. When the footwear is put on a walking person the inner portionis periodically compressed and allowed to expand. The contained liquidwill then circulate around the foot which is thereby subjected to anadvantageous and effective medical treatment. The footwear, thus,replaces earlier foot treatment by using a bowl filled with a liquid. Itcan be designed as a simple article for non-recurring use.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FOOTWEAR FOR FOOT TREATMENT OR MAINTENANCEThe present invention relates to footwears, particularly footwears formedical foot treatment or maintenance.

The main object of the invention is to replace the heretofore common butrather unpractical method of foot treatment by using a bowl filled witha liquid.

According to the invention a footwear for foot treatment or maintenancecomprises a liquid absorbing inner portion shaped to enclose a foot andan outer liquid proof outer portion or layer, said inner portion beingmade of an elastic and porous material such as a foam plastic so that itby compression emits a liquid contained therein and when resuming itsoriginal shape again absorbes or soaks up the liquid.

Thus, if the footwear is used by a walking person the liquid willcirculate around the foot when the inner portion periodically will becompressed and allowed to expand which brings about an advantageousmedical treatment of the foot superior to the result obtained by aconventional foot-bath. In addition a footwear according to theinvention will permit the user to move freely and occupy himself withother duties when simultaneously being subjected to the medicaltreatment.

The invention will be more fully described hereinbelow with reference tothe accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a footwear according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 a footwear having substantially the shape of aslipper comprises an inner portion a of an elastic and porous materialsuch as a foam plastic, for instance polyeter or polyurethane foamplastic. A waterproof separate outer layer b surrounds and is bound tothe inner portion and serves as a waterproof envelope or covertherefore. It may be made of a plastic foil such as a polyethylene foil.In the footwear there is a foot receiving opening c.

The footwear is conveniently so shaped that its heel portion extendsabove the heel of the inserted foot and it may also have a downwardsdirected recess for the ankle joint.

After having saturated the inner portion a with a suitable treatmentagent, for instance a foot-salt dissolved in water, the footwear is puton the foot. When the wearer then walks the liquid will circulate aroundthe foot during the periodical compression and expansion of the innerportion, then subjecting the foot to an effective and advantageousmedical treatment.

In the modified embodiment according to FIG. 2 the separate thin outerportion or layer b for instance made of a polyethylene foil is not boundto the inner portion but held tightly thereagainst and against thefoot-ankle by means of a crimped upper part containing a rubber band d.

In the footwear according to FIG. 3 which is shaped substantially as theone in FIG. 1 the outer waterproof layer b is integral with the porousand elastic inner portion a and comprises an impregnated outer partthereof.

It is important that the inner portion a Is made of a material havinggood skin protecting characteristics. Some foam plastics have a tendencyto hurt the skin and are therefore not suitable. Most foam plastics suchas the above mentioned, however, are convenient for the foot and maytherefore be utilized. Other types of porous and elastic materials thanfoam plastics such as sponge materials may also be used.

A footwear according to the invention is cheap to manufacture in largeseries and may be designed as a throw-away article for use for instancein hospitals or the like.

What we claim is:

1. A footwear for foot treatment or maintenance comprising a liquidabsorbing inner portion shaped to at least partly enclose a foot and aliquid proof outer portion or layer, said inner portion being made of anelastic and porous material and in direct contact with a users foot, anda therapeutic liquid absorbently contained in said porous inner portion,wherein said inner portion by compression emits said liquid containedtherein and when resuming its original shape again absorbes the liquid.

2. A footwear as set forth in claim 1, said elastic and porous innerportion comprising a foam plastic materia] having good skin protectingproperties such as polyeter foam plastic, the outer portion or layercomprising a plastic foil.

2. A footwear as set forth in claim 1, said elastic and porous innerportion comprising a foam plastic material having good skin protectingproperties such as polyeter foam plastic, the outer portion or layercomprising a plastic foil.